Bangladesh: Hell-bent on creating chaos
The Hindu, January 6
The Bangladesh President, Iajuddin Ahmed, appears hell-bent on throwing the country into chaos. Mr. Ahmed, who heads the caretaker government, has the responsibility of ensuring that the parliamentary elections scheduled for January 22 are free and fair. Instead, his partisanship with the Bangladesh National Party-Jamaat Islami combine was so flagrant that the opposition parties were left with no choice but to boycott the election. While the President came up with a few cosmetic measures initially, he refused to give ground on most of the eminently reasonable demands made by the Awami League-led 14 party alliance. Electoral officers known to be partisan were not replaced; voters' lists were not revised; and appointees of the BNP were not removed from key administrative posts. The rejection of the nomination papers of H.M. Ershad, the former President, was the last straw. This move convinced even those parties that were not part of either alliance that while the poll processes might seem above board, the result would be rigged in favour of the BNP-Jamaat combine. Under the circumstances, participation in the electoral exercise would only legitimise electoral manipulation and fraud in favour of the BNP.
However, Mr. Ahmed appears determined to press ahead, come what may. The BNP-Jamaat combine has swung round to the view that their allied status is a hindrance to their ambitions. With the boycotting parties withdrawing nominations, many of the combine's candidates have already been declared winners in their constituencies. The alliance has now decided that while the BNP will project itself as the prospective ruling party from now on, the Jamaat will pose as the opposition. The unbelievable chutzpah of these parties might not take them far. With the boycotting parties deciding to enforce a two-day countrywide blockade from January 7, there is a clear likelihood of violence breaking out in Bangladesh. The situation could turn explosive if the boycotting parties carry out their plan to resist the election. An outbreak of violence could give the military an opportunity to intervene. The armed forces, which are under orders to deploy to district headquarters from January 10, have so far not shown any interest in getting involved in the political showdown. The generals know that if they take power, their forces will have to be withdrawn from international peace-keeping operations that are a lush source of income. While major political turbulence seems unavoidable, the hope is that Bangladeshi democracy will emerge stronger at the end of it. This can happen only if the reactionary BNP-Jamaat combine is forced out of power by a people's revolt combining with international pressure on the side of democracy.
The Bangladesh President, Iajuddin Ahmed, appears hell-bent on throwing the country into chaos. Mr. Ahmed, who heads the caretaker government, has the responsibility of ensuring that the parliamentary elections scheduled for January 22 are free and fair. Instead, his partisanship with the Bangladesh National Party-Jamaat Islami combine was so flagrant that the opposition parties were left with no choice but to boycott the election. While the President came up with a few cosmetic measures initially, he refused to give ground on most of the eminently reasonable demands made by the Awami League-led 14 party alliance. Electoral officers known to be partisan were not replaced; voters' lists were not revised; and appointees of the BNP were not removed from key administrative posts. The rejection of the nomination papers of H.M. Ershad, the former President, was the last straw. This move convinced even those parties that were not part of either alliance that while the poll processes might seem above board, the result would be rigged in favour of the BNP-Jamaat combine. Under the circumstances, participation in the electoral exercise would only legitimise electoral manipulation and fraud in favour of the BNP.
However, Mr. Ahmed appears determined to press ahead, come what may. The BNP-Jamaat combine has swung round to the view that their allied status is a hindrance to their ambitions. With the boycotting parties withdrawing nominations, many of the combine's candidates have already been declared winners in their constituencies. The alliance has now decided that while the BNP will project itself as the prospective ruling party from now on, the Jamaat will pose as the opposition. The unbelievable chutzpah of these parties might not take them far. With the boycotting parties deciding to enforce a two-day countrywide blockade from January 7, there is a clear likelihood of violence breaking out in Bangladesh. The situation could turn explosive if the boycotting parties carry out their plan to resist the election. An outbreak of violence could give the military an opportunity to intervene. The armed forces, which are under orders to deploy to district headquarters from January 10, have so far not shown any interest in getting involved in the political showdown. The generals know that if they take power, their forces will have to be withdrawn from international peace-keeping operations that are a lush source of income. While major political turbulence seems unavoidable, the hope is that Bangladeshi democracy will emerge stronger at the end of it. This can happen only if the reactionary BNP-Jamaat combine is forced out of power by a people's revolt combining with international pressure on the side of democracy.
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